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Choosing Research Methods Conducting Background Research

1. The document discusses various research methods for conducting interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires. It differentiates between structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews. 2. Focus group discussions are described as a way to get a group of people together to discuss an issue, led by a moderator. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups are mentioned. 3. The document outlines closed-ended, open-ended, and mixed questionnaires and their uses in quantitative and qualitative research.

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Niño Dwayne Tubo
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65 views

Choosing Research Methods Conducting Background Research

1. The document discusses various research methods for conducting interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires. It differentiates between structured, semi-structured, and unstructured interviews. 2. Focus group discussions are described as a way to get a group of people together to discuss an issue, led by a moderator. Advantages and disadvantages of focus groups are mentioned. 3. The document outlines closed-ended, open-ended, and mixed questionnaires and their uses in quantitative and qualitative research.

Uploaded by

Niño Dwayne Tubo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Choosing Research Methods and

Conducting background research


Learning Objectives:

1. Differentiate unstructured, semi-structured, and structured


interviews.
2. Know the importance of focus group discussion.
3. Identify and describe the basic types of questionnaire and be able to
simulate construction of a questionnaire.
INTERVIEW
Unstructured interviews
- in-depth interviews or life history interviews
- the researcher attempts to achieve a holistic understanding of the
interviewee’s point of view or situation.
- the participant is free to talk about what he or she deems important
with little directional influence from the researcher.
- can only be used for qualitative research.
INTERVIEW
Semi-structured interviews
- the researcher wants to know specific information which can
can be compared and contrasted with information gained in
other interviews
- the researcher produces an interview schedule. (specific
questions or a list of topics to be discussed)
INTERVIEW
Structured interviews
- interviewer asks series of questions and ticks boxes with your
response.
- used in quantitative research
- can be conducted face to face, over telephone, or the use of
internet nowadays.
FOCUS GROUPS
- discussion groups or group interviews
- a number of people are asked to come together in a group to
discuss a certain issue.
- discussion is led by a moderator or facilitator who introduces the
topic, asks specific questions, controls digressions, and stops
break-away conversations.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES:FOCUS GROUP
Questionnaires
Closed-ended questionnaires
-used to generate statistics in quantitative research
- follow a set format that can be scanned straight into a computer
for ease of analysis, greater numbers can be produced.
Questionnaires
Open-ended questionnaires
- used in qualitative research
- it does not contain boxes to tick, but leave a blank space for the
respondent to write his/her answer.
- used to find out what people think about a certain phenomena,
goods or service
Questionnaires
Mixed Questionnaire
- combining the use of both closed and open questionnaires.
- tend to start with a series of closed questions, with boxes to tick
or scales to rank, then close with a section of open questions for
more detailed response.
Participant Observation
Direct Observation
- Involves the observation of a “subject” in a certain situation and
often uses technology such as video cameras or one-way mirrors.
Participant Observation
- The researcher becomes much more involved in the lives of the
people being observed.
Choosing the appropriate methods
• The chosen research methodology should help to indicate the most
appropriate research tools.
• Research methods must be chosen within budget and time
constraints.
• The purpose of the research will provide an indicator to the most
appropriate methods.
• Think about your personality, strengths, weakness, likes and dislikes
when choosing research methods
Conduct Background Research
Primary Research
- involves the study of a subject through firsthand observation and
investigation.
- come from a researcher’s own observations or experience, or from
the information the researcher gather personally from other people.
Conduct Background Research
Secondary Research
- it involves the collection of information from studies that other
researchers have made of a subject
- accessible via libraries and the internet
Using Websites
• Try to use websites run by organizations you know and trust.
• Check the About Us section on the web page for more information
about the creator and organization.
• Use another source, if possible, to check any information of which
you are unsure.
• Check the national source of the data as information may differ
between countries
Sources of Background Information
Keeping Records
• Notes from primary and secondary sources should be carefully filed
and labelled so that the source can be found easily, if required.
• When noting details for books, reports or articles which may appear
in the final report, include all the details which would be needed for’
the bibliography.
Group Activity: Primary & Secondary
Research
Based on the Research Topic/Title you have identified in your first
group activity, you are task to conduct a primary research and
secondary research based on that topic. For primary research, you may
record a video of an interview conducted, prepare survey
questionnaires (at least 10 questions), or write observations about the
topic. For secondary research, find at least one related literature and
write something about it and see if you can find a gap where your study
can fit in and solve the problems you intend to solve.
END

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